Single-spark apparatus for internal-combustion engines.



E. W. STEVENS. SINGLE SPARK APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 31, 1914.

Patented Feb. 16, 1915 BWTTE/PV Ca /047M551? iwi ML a 900 o UNITED ELECmIC COMPANY, 0F CLEVELAND,

DEED. A COKPORATEON 0F DELAWAEEL SINGLE-SPARK AFPARATUS FOB INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES.

T all whom it may concern Be it known that l, ELBBIDGE W. STEVENS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore city, in the State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Single-Spark Apparatus for InternalCombustion Engines, of which the following is a specification.

It is a Well known fact that the first spark produced in the cylinder of an internal combustion engine tires the mixture of gas and the succeeding number of sparks generated by the well known vibrator coil, as long as the timer remains in contact, is a needless waste of current, besides causing unnecessary Wear on contact point-s and other moving parts. It is for the elimination of these undesirable factors that the present apparatus is designed.

Apparatus has heretofore been provided for suppressing a succession of sparks after the initial, exploding, spark has been delivered, such apparatus comprising supplementary means in the form of an electromagnet in a shunt circuit which acts on the armature controlling the main contacts to hold them open, long as thetimer contacts are closed.

M invention has special reference to the means for holding open the main contacts after the initial spark and consists chiefly in the use of a solenoid with core moving concentrically through a helix in axiai longitudinal direction, and also in the compound construction of the helix and its combination and arrangement with the other coacting parts, as will be hereinafter more fully described with. reference to the drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical section of the me chanical parts, with diagram of circuits connecting therewith, and Fig. 2 is a detail in plan view of the armature controlling the main contacts.

Referring to Fig. l, A is the iron core of an induction coil, B its primary winding, and C the secondary. N is a basic support through which the core A projects at right angles. E is a soft iron armature bar supported by a fiat spring D just above the end of the core A and within its sphere pfattraction. This carries on its upper side a contact 39, superposed above which is an Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 31, 1914.

after the initial spark, as

Patented Feb. 16, 1915.

Serial No. 859,347.

other alined contact 72 carried by screw G in metal supporting frame F. M is a non-conducting bracket supporting a spool or reel onwhich is .wound a single layer of coarse insulated wire K and a plurality of layers of fine high resistance insulated wire L. I is a central soft iron core moving centrally longitudinally and axially within the helix and forming a solenoid. This core is supported on the end of the armature bar E, which is notched or slotted at its end at P, see Fig. 2, to receive the prolonged axis of the core, which axis is flanged above and below the armature bar to causethe core to move freely up and down with the armature bar. The electrical connections of the parts are shown in the diagram of circuits.

When the timer contacts i y' are closed, current from the battery flows through the following circuit a, i, 7', 7c, Z, m, n, D, 0, closed contacts p, 'p", G, F, q, r, s, to battery, and also through it, o, coarse wire K of the solenoid through 1, 2, 3, D, E, 0, 12 G, F, g, r, a to battery; but with the flowing of the current through the primary Winding of the coil the core A becomes magnetized and attracts the armature E, also starting down soienoid core I. This action separates the contact points 72 p and the electric circuit is broken. vVith the discharging of the core A an inductive current is produced in the secondary winding C, which, being a current of high voltage, jumps the air gap at the spark plug in the cylinder of the engine at X. its path is as follows: from coil C and wire 4 to spark X and from coil C through 5 to spark X. Now, in the original form of induction coil vibrator, with the ceasing of the core to be a magnet, the armature being held up against the end of a screw by spring, the electric circuit wont be again quickly made, and the above spark production accomplished. over and over again as long as the timer contacts are together, obviously with a great wasting of battery current and an unnecessary wear and tear.

The object of my invention is to hold the contacts 7) p apart, after a single spark has been produced, through the balance of time the timers contact, by the use of an expenditure of current which is little compared to what it is necessary to use if no means were employed to hinder the coil in its'regular operation throughout the entire timeof the timers contact.

It is a well known fact that if a movable iron core "is immersed in the center of a helix through which an electric current is allowed to travel there is a tendency for said movable core to be sucked down into the said helix to'a point where there is a balance of magnetic flux, and it is this sucking down principle by the coil, commonly known as a solenoid, which I Wish to employ for the holding down of the armature E after a single spark has been produced, with the consequent separation of the contacts 29 79 so long as the timer shall keep the battery circuit closed, for with the separation of the contacts p p the current continues to flow as follows: from battery through a, 2', j, 7:, a, o, w high resistance coil L of solenoid helix, thence through a: to F, g, 'r, s to battery. The armature E being thus held down by the solenoid after the opening of thecontacts, it will be seen that only one spark will be given at X. When the timer contacts z' and j separate, the circuit through the high tension coil of the solenoid is broken until the timer contacts again remake the circuits.

It will be noted that I wind my helix with a single layer of comparatively coarse wire K, which winding is in circuit with the primary, causing a much more rapid initial action of the downward vertical movement of core I and at the same time the core, being magnetized by an electric current, becomes an electro-magnet, which magnetism is later more easily held by the small current in the high resistance winding after the contacts p p separate and the current is discontinued in winding K. An ironmetal plate 0 acts as a stop for the lower end of core I and, being of iron, the two metals will have some attraction for each other, thus assisting in the holding down of core I, the spring D being strong messes enough to overcome any residual magnetism after the discontinuance of all current in both windings K and L.

What I claim is:

1. A single-spark producing apparatus for internal combustion engines, comprising an induction coil, an armature with circuit controlling contacts, a solenoid with core operating upon the armature, said core being arranged to move longitudinally within the coil of the solenoid, a main circuit made through the armature contacts, and a shunt circuit including the helix of the solenoid.

2. A single-spark producing apparatus for internal combustion engines, comprising an incluction'coil, an armature with circuit controlling contacts, a solenoid with core operating upon the armature, a main circuit made through the armature contacts, and a shunt circuit includingv the helix of the solenoid, said helix being made in two parts, a coarse winding cooperating with the induction coil core for attracting its armature, and a high resistance Winding for holding the armature contacts open after its initial opening.

3. A single-spark producing apparatus for internal combustion engines, comprising an induction coil, an armature with circuit controlling contacts, a solenoid with" core operating upon the armature, said core be ing arranged to move longitudinally within the coil of the solenoid, a main circuit made through the armature contacts, and a shunt circuit including the helix of the solenoid, the solenoid core being extended, past the armature, and an iron plate for attractively holding said solenoid core in the open position of the circuit contacts.

In testimony whereof I aifix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ELBRIDGE W. STEVENS, 

